The Bar at the Edge of Nowhere

by Syric Philharmonica

A Respite; Rediscovered Yet Unchanged (Luna Part 1)

One lovely very early morning during the end of summer strode a figure in a large cloak slowly meandering their way through a dense forest. The path trodden overgrown and nearly washed away by the cruelty of time, yet still incredibly there for those perceptive enough to see it. Or those who remember it.

The figure took a moment to observe their surroundings, and found themselves slowing to a stop near a boulder for a rest. Climbing upward to sit astride the rock's face the wanderer gave a heavy sigh before tilting their head upwards to catch a glimpse of the smoke that had spurred them onwards so fervently.

"We has't nearly arrived, one thousand years late, but We hath kept Our promise to thee." The figure softly spoke, standing tall and gazed towards a barely visible tree line in the distance. Beyond that line lay the column of smoke, gently floating upwards. Taking a moment to stretch their legs out, the Wanderer Continued on their journey. Upon coming to a bramble thicket, the figure's eyes drifted down to their cloak when an errant breeze lifted the edge into their vision and with a huff, it was cast off into the dirt, revealing Her Majesty Princess Luna in all her midnight glory.

"We knoweth not whyever We hath kept that ragged thing on this long, twas only meant to covereth Our exit from castle and city." She gave a light sigh. "The ails of a wandering mind We suppose..." She mused as her horn ignited to clear a path through the thicket, parting the brambles to either side of the path to come ever closer to her goal.

Casting her eyes to the column of smoke her mind began to wander again while her hooves carried her onward. "If 't be true thee art alive, and We desire it so, We cannot wait to heareth about all We has't missed." Luna thought as her mind raced with the possibilities. "The stories art sure to beest Wonderful!" With a start Luna shook her head, getting rid of her wide grin and refocusing her thoughts on continuing her trek through the forest and noticing that she had cleared quite a distance relatively quickly in her excitement and mental distraction. Looking around to reorient herself she found that her memories had not failed her as she approached the last barrier between her and the end of her long journey.

Casting her eyes across the tree line for a large enough gap to squeeze through she attempted to keep her more intrusive thoughts at bay, only to find that she was unable to stop all of them from manifesting in her mind's eye, a uncharacteristic nervousness taking ahold of her heart with an iron grip. Taking a step back and closing her eyes, she wrestled with the worst of them; that there would be nothing beyond the barrier but burning rubble, or that her only other Immortal friend had somehow passed away and his abode had been occupied by another.

Luna took a deep breath to steady herself, her hooves clacking against the stones on the ground as her legs trembled. 'Nay. We has't cometh this far, We must see this through to the end. Even If 't be true there is nothing hither for Us but Our own memories.' With that thought to tentatively bolster her resolve her eyes fell upon a sizable gap and she quickly strode over to it before she could lose the will to continue again. Stepping carefully over roots and shrubbery, she pushed between the trees and took a moment to brush off her coat afterward, steeling herself for whatever sight lay before her when she gathered the courage to look up.

Once she could no longer find an excuse to keep dusting off, she swallowed heavily and cast her gaze upward, Tears sprung to her eyes as the memories rapidly overwhelmed her. Memories of all the times she would sneak away with Celestia, or by herself during the later years. Oh the trouble they would get into, it was always worth the scolding and punishment. Memories of all the laughs had and tears shed at this establishment among friends and family. The one place she and her sister could TRULY relax one thousand years before. The Sleeping Alicorn.

---

As Luna stood slack jawed and glossy-eyed at the sight before her and memories rushing past her mind's eye, inside The Sleeping Alicorn a unicorn stallion named Stalwart Shield was preparing for the new day, stacking glasses and using magic to sweep the floor and wipe tables. Once the cleaning implements finished their work and retreated to the broom closet he turned to check his reflection in the mirror behind the bar.

His brown coat nearly amber in the bright morning light and reflecting off his brown eyes, his once black mane now gray with white streaks. Though his appearance was of a 30-ish well-travelled stallion, the fair few scars along his body and face told the story of a seasoned fighter along with the shield and crossed swords emblazoned upon his side. though his days as a Knight of the Royal Equestrian Throne were long, LONG behind him, he could not shake a fair few of the habits instilled during his time serving. as such Stalwart was still fit and healthy, most likely owed to his unnaturally Eternal life, and made sure to train his swordsmanship whenever the chance arose to.

After Stalwart was done looking himself over he double-checked that everything was in order once more before using his magic to unlock the door and stand behind the bar, getting the ingredients ready for the regulars that would come throughout the day. it was of course then that a streak of sunlight reflecting off an errant piece of metal attempted to blind him. "gh-, Bastard. " Stalwart grumbled as he, rubbing his eye, attempted to see what was attacking him this early in the morning and catching a glimpse of silver on a dark blue coat through a window. "better not be something else I have to fix because of those damn griffons."

Upon hearing the not exactly quiet grumbling coming from the door, Luna was able to wrench herself from her unintended trip down memory lane and excitedly trot up to the door and knock. Now all she could do was wait, almost vibrating from the nervous energy and excitement mixing in her body causing her to shift from side to side, and see what fate had in store for the Monarch of the Night. "I thought I... Hold on!" Was shouted from the depths of the building. "Forgot the damn sign." as hoofsteps came closer to the door, causing Luna to grow more restless from the anticipation.

With the soft chimes of magic the large oak door swung open and both parties were able to see each other for the first time in a millennium.

"wha-" before Stalwart could get a full word out he was crushed in a hug from the Lunar Princess as she victoriously cried,

"Sir Stalwart Shield of the O.S.M! thou still liveth! We art overcome with such joy!" Luna continued to keep Stalwart locked to her chest as she began to softly cry, overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment and all her fears washing away.

Stalwart, although incredibly confused and reeling from the discovery that the Lunar Princess not only still lived but had made the trek out to see him at his bar, could not help but to get teary eyed himself and comfort her as best he could help tightly to her as he was.

"Alright Princess, it's alright. I'm still alive and so are you." Stalwart said as he wiped his eyes and cried with the sobbing Princess.

---

After quite a few minutes of releasing emotional tension from both parties Stalwart managed to break free from Luna's grip and lead her inside to sit down and talk away from prying eyes that may pass by. "It's good to see you too Princess. Now, I doubt you came all the way out here to cry on my behalf. I'll get you a glass of Liquid Moonlight."

as Stalwart stood to prepare the glass Luna managed to speak up with no small amount of shame. "Liquid Moonlight? how doth thee has't any? twas boycotted centuries ago... When fear of Us wast at it's peak."

"while that may be true," Stalwart conceded as he dug through a cabinet of unlabeled bottles, "I managed to get my hands on the recipe by posing as a prohibitionist." he floated two glasses over to Luna's table. "Which allowed me to continue it's production on my own. of course," he continued, levitating a faintly glowing bottle of liquid silver, "I only sell it on the secret menu, which VERY few people know." Stalwart finished as he returned to the table with the bottle held aloft in his gold telekinetic field.

"Incredible..." Luna softly exclaimed as she reverently took the bottle from his magic in her own and brought it closer to inspect. "to hold a piece of Our history after a millennium... We may beginneth to cry again!" She exclaimed and gently poured the glowing liquid silver into the glasses, the arcane process that created it causing frost to build on the glasses immediately even in the summer heat.

Raising her glass, Luna regarded Stalwart with a critical, if red, eye. "doth thou knoweth," She drawled, taking a languid sip of the drink of closing her eyes to appreciate the flavor. "if't be true Our sister kneweth thee could maketh this, Celestia would has't hath sent a Royal Decree for trade AGES ago!" Luna exclaimed as she took another sip, laughing.

With a chuckle Stalwart drank his own glass and conceded victory to Luna. "Well now that you know I doubt she'll be far behind. I'll wait for that decree with baited breath." after a moment of silence Stalwart downed the rest of his glass and wiped off the frost that formed on his lips. "well I gotta get back behind the counter. This place won't run itself as much as I want it to." He said as he rose from his seat and took his place. "take that bottle with you when you leave, I have more, and can always make more."

"We believe We shall remain here a while longer," Luna said as she leaned to rest upon her side to watch the patrons who would enter from the back of the bar. "it hath been oh so long since We has't seen thee worketh. We shalt enjoy the show ere We taketh our leave."

"suit yourself Princess."

"We shall Sir Stalwart."

Author's Note:

Welcome one and all to the first chapter of TBEN! this is going to be a collection of one-shots and small stories that I want to write but will NOT become full stories on their own. Expect to see many different faces enter The Bar. because you all and I both know that Luna would be more than happy to tell Celestia, which would quickly spiral out of control

Comments

[AgentKorpsman]

Before I read, who’s the bartender here?

[Syric Philharmonica]

11522951
The spoiler is a slightly in depth look at Stalwart's backstory, so I recommended not looking under it unless you desperately want to know and are unwilling to wait for the story to tell you itself.

The Bartender is an OC I created named Stalwart shield. He was a knight way back when who would take artefact hunts. Upon finding one of said artefacts he was cursed with immortality. Once he had figured it out he decided to retire in his late 30s and opened a bar near the edge of the Old Kingdom. It has been a VERY long time since then.

Hope that is a sufficient explanation!

[Wanderer D]

Heh. Sounds familiar.

Nice first chapter, it needs a bit of clean-up, but the important parts: Luna's reaction & the bartender's intro felt pretty solid.

[Eversong]

Does your story takes inspiration from Restaurant from another world ?

[Bronzedragon]

sounds a little like Callahan's Cross time Saloon.